Arts & Entertainment

Controversial Pope Portrait Set for Public Unveiling

Shorewood artist Niki Johnson's piece that has sparked discussion globally, is set to be part of a special exhibit later this month at a Milwaukee art gallery.

 will be unveiled publicly for the first time April 11 at a Milwaukee art gallery.

"Eggs Benedict" — which has sparked discussion around the world — will be part of a special exhibit opening at the Portrait Society Gallery, 207 E. Buffalo St., Suite 526 at 7 p.m., running April 11 through May. It will also be on display through a gallery night on April 18 and 19 from 6 to 9 p.m., according to the gallery's website. 

The gallery, which "showcases both current and historic artists who work broadly and loosely with the ideas of portrait traditions," will include some of Johnson's other artwork in a larger exhibition, Sourcebook: Martha Wilson and MKE New Feminist Makers, at the gallery from June 6 to July 28.

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Johnson told Patch Thursday she is putting the finishing touches on the piece's case and will install it in the gallery early next week. 

Johnson was inspired to conceive the piece after hearing the former pontiff's remarks in 2009 during a trip to Africa, suggesting that the use of condoms would increase the spread of AIDS. The piece is a commentary on sexuality and sex health. 

Find out what's happening in Shorewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

OnMilwaukee was the first to write about "Eggs Benedict," followed by Patch. Since, national publications like The Huffington Post and the New York Daily News and global news outlets including The UK Sun and a German press wire service, among others, have written about "Eggs Benedict."

Newsbusters, an online conservative news website, labeled the piece "disgusting."

Archdiocese of Milwaukee spokesperson Jerry Topczewski told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “The Catholic Church has always been open to frank conversations about human sexuality, especially regarding the morality that comes with the choices people make in their individual lives and understanding that, along with those choices comes an inherent responsibility to live as God has created us, respecting the dignity of all human persons.”

Johnson will talk with two local TV news stations next week and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel will have a piece in Sunday's newspaper.


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